President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Lucy Shapiro in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Lucy Shapiro in a...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Lucy Shapiro in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Barry C. Mazur in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Barry C. Mazur in a...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Barry C. Mazur in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Anne M. Treisman in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Anne M. Treisman in...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Science to Anne M. Treisman in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Frances H. Arnold in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Frances H. Arnold in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to George Carruthers in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to George Carruthers in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Robert Langer in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Robert Langer in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama laughs during a ceremony awarding the National Medal of Technology and Innovation at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made...More

President Barack Obama laughs during a ceremony awarding the National Medal of...President Barack Obama laughs during a ceremony awarding the National Medal of Technology and Innovation at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Gholam A. Peyman in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Gholam A. Peyman in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Jan T. Vilcek in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made...More

President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to...President Barack Obama awards the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Jan T. Vilcek in a ceremony at the White House on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The National Medal of Science recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and engineering, while the National Medal of Technology and Innovation recognizes those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness and quality of life and helped strengthen the Nation's technological workforce.LessMore

Energy Secretary Steven Chu attends a ceremony at the White House awarding the National Medals of Science and the National Medals of Technology and Innovation on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. Chu announced earlier in the day he...More

Energy Secretary Steven Chu attends a ceremony at the White House awarding the...Energy Secretary Steven Chu attends a ceremony at the White House awarding the National Medals of Science and the National Medals of Technology and Innovation on February 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. Chu announced earlier in the day he is leaving his post. Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)LessMore